Stage 02 of 03 · Builder

Competition Robotics: VEX V5

Run a real V5 season. Win some matches.

Ages: 11 – 18

What students learn

A full VEX V5 competition season, run the way real engineering teams run them. Strategy → CAD → fabricate → wire → program → drive → iterate after every match. Students learn to manage a season-long project, debug under deadline pressure, and document their work in the engineering notebook that wins judged awards. Competition robotics is one of the most credible signals on a tech-oriented college application — not for trophies, but for what it demonstrably teaches.

Real engineering project management on a season-long timeline. CAD-then-build discipline. Calm under match pressure. Mentorship instincts. The off-season habit of mentoring the next team.

Module-by-module

01

Strategy

Game analysis, scoring math, alliance picking. Strategy doc.
02

CAD the robot

Onshape or Fusion. Full CAD assembly before metal.
03

Build v1

Fabricate, assemble, wire. Driveable v1.
04

Code v1

Driver controls + first auto. Working at scrimmage.
05

Iterate

Every match teaches you something. Revision log.
06

Engineering notebook

Week-by-week, judges-ready. Notebook complete.
07

Drive practice

Repetition + scoring drills. Measured improvement.
08

Scouting & alliance

Pit + match scouting. Scouting database.
09

Regional / state

Compete. Results + post-mortem.
10

Off-season build

Keep going, mentor the next team.

What they make

A competition-ready V5 robot, an engineering notebook judges can read, and a season’s worth of match data and lessons learned.

Walk away with

Project management as a habit. Mentorship instincts. Composure under pressure.

Learn on your own pace

This course can be self-studied end-to-end using these vetted free resources. Work through them at your own pace — alone, or with a parent alongside.

Honorable mentions

Next step

Innovator project (robotics-flavored) or mentoring a younger team.

Ready to enroll?